en reforged for him by the smith, the Silent Smith, heavier and more solid than the last. Suddenly from the temple behind him came a girl's soft laugh, clear and crisp: "You do talk amusingly. Very well, then — I won't eat you." Shen Mu whirled around and saw that at some point a little girl had seated herself on the Buddha's palm. She was about his own age, eleven or twelve, her hair in three braids — two finer ones hanging before her breast, the thick one down her back — swinging her bare feet and watching him with a grin. The girl's feet swung to and fro, the gold rings at her ankles clinking and chiming against one another, until her laughter seemed to grow bright as early-spring sunlight. Shen Mu scrambled to his feet. "Honored immortal sister..." "Immortal sister? Where's an immortal sister?" The girl jumped down from the Buddha's hand, laughing merrily, showing two little canine teeth: "I'm Qixia'er. I live nearby, and I've never seen any immortal sister. What's your name?" Seeing her bright laugh and thinking she did not look like a bad sort, Shen Mu breathed easier. "I'm Shen Mu — it means the cowherd boy of the Shen family. I used to have a cow. The grannies and grandpas in the village were always making me herd it." Qixia'er walked to the back of the old temple's doorway and pulled open the other door, looking him up and down, then peering behind him. Suddenly she burst out laughing: "Where's your cow?" Shen Mu hesitated. "The cow turned into a woman. There's no cow now." Qixia'er was astonished, and hopped with delight: "There's such a fun thing in the world? How did it change? Can you change?" Shen Mu shook his head. "Not very well yet. My granny can." Qixia'er looked a little disappointed. "I thought you could. What other fun things do you have? Come in quickly and tell me!" Shen Mu lifted his foot, about to step into the old temple, when suddenly his gaze passed beyond Qixia'er and he saw, behind the Buddha of that ruined shrine, several white bones showing. His heart lurched; his foot hung in the air and did not come down. He hesitated: "Blind Grandpa says that to enter a temple and burn incense you must first bow to the Buddha within. I've brought no incense, so I'd better not go in." "Come in!" Qixia'er said sweetly. Shen Mu blinked, drew back his hovering foot, and smiled more artlessly than even the Lame Elder: "I still won't go in. You come out, and I'll tell you some fun things." Qixia'er's eyes flickered; her white teeth bit her red lip, and she giggled: "I know some shy, naughty things that only boys and girls can play at. Come in, and I'll teach you." Her breath was sweet as orchids, her voice full of allure; a moment ago she had been fresh and bright, and now she was somewhat charming, somewhat seductive. Shen Mu's face went red with holding back, and he stammered: "Since childhood my kidneys have been weak..." "Get in here!" A thunderous roar came from the little girl's mouth.